Comparative sensitizing potencies of fragrances, preservatives, and hair dyes

• Published in: Contact dermatitis Vol. 75; no. 5; pp. 265 - 275
• Main Authors: Lidén, Carola, Yazar, Kerem, Johansen, Jeanne D., Karlberg, Ann-Therese, Uter, Wolfgang, White, Ian R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: 5 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES; AIR EXPOSURE; Allergens - toxicity; ALLERGIC CONTACT-DERMATITIS; Animals; COUPLED EXPOSURE; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - etiology; Dermatologi och venereologi; Dermatology and Venereal Diseases; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dyes; EC3 value; fragrances; hair dyes; Hair Dyes - toxicity; hazard; IDENTIFICATION; Immunization; Local Lymph Node Assay; LYMPH-NODE ASSAY; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE; OXIDATION-PRODUCTS; Perfume - toxicity; preservatives; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical - toxicity; QUANTIFICATION; Risk Assessment; Scientific Committee on; Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety; SKIN SENSITIZATION; Skin Tests; EC3 value; preservatives; risk assessment; hazard; fragrances; hair dyes; Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
• ISSN: 0105-1873; 1600-0536; 1600-0536
• DOI: 10.1111/cod.12683

Summary The local lymph node assay (LLNA) is used for assessing sensitizing potential in hazard identification and risk assessment for regulatory purposes. Sensitizing potency on the basis of the LLNA is categorized into extreme (EC3 value of ≤0.2%), strong (>0.2% to ≤2%), and moderate (>2%). To compare the sensitizing potencies of fragrance substances, preservatives, and hair dye substances, which are skin sensitizers that frequently come into contact with the skin of consumers and workers, LLNA results and EC3 values for 72 fragrance substances, 25 preservatives and 107 hair dye substances were obtained from two published compilations of LLNA data and opinions by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and its predecessors. The median EC3 values of fragrances (n = 61), preservatives (n = 19) and hair dyes (n = 59) were 5.9%, 0.9%, and 1.3%, respectively. The majority of sensitizing preservatives and hair dyes are thus strong or extreme sensitizers (EC3 value of ≤2%), and fragrances are mostly moderate sensitizers. Although fragrances are typically moderate sensitizers, they are among the most frequent causes of contact allergy. This indicates that factors other than potency need to be addressed more rigorously in risk assessment and risk management.